http://www.spiegel.de/international/...553531,00.html
That's how it is, and nobody likes it. the mutual blockade of the coalition "partners" can be seen in various other fields of national policies as well, labour policies, taxes, health and social policies. Some things there are the PR blow up to be "huge reforms", if not "revolutions" , but what is behind the words has been small ministeps and cosmetical adjustements.
The american observers the essay refers to, are right - no matter who wins the US election, the ridiculously unprepared german politicians will get rolled over by the changes themselves as if beeing rolled over by a tank. EU foreign policies in general are a joke for the most, but the German interpretation of that joke is especially hilarious.